Today was the day that the Chickadees flew out of their nests.  We had put some foam under the birdhouses, in worries that the babies wouldn’t know how to fly and might fall, but we had no need to be concerned. The babies flew right out of their nest and up to our roof on the very first try!  Then we saw them following their parents around on the roof.  Apparently, the rooftop is a perfect place to practice flying!   They fly differently when they’re so very young.  They flutter a lot.  But they seem to know the basics from instinct.

Yesterday, they peaked their heads out for the very first time.  It was a sunny day and they were very blinky!   So, if you are watching a Black-Capped Chickadee bird nest and wondering when they are going to leave the nest, then you should know that if your experience is anything like ours, as soon as you see them peaking out, get ready!  I read that they usually leave the nest in the morning, and for us, this was true.  It was about 6:30am.  So make you sure you get up bright and early if you want to witness the Chickadee’s first flight!

We didn’t get a full count as to how many babies they had because we have a pet Stellar Jay named Kevin.  Well, he’s not a real pet but he’s starting to think he is.  He comes to our shed roof and does a little dance for us right outside of our living room window.  (He knows we have an unlimited supply of PEANUTS!)  He flufffs himself up really big.   And today, as long as we left the window blinds open, he wouldn’t leave. So he was sitting on the roof just right above the chickadee bird house and the chickadees were freaking out with their alarming multiple “DEE DEE DEE DEE” sound (apparently, the more DEE notes, the more severe the warning).  So to get Kevin to go away, we closed the blinds, and missed seeing all of the Chickadees fledge.

So the baby birds are gone now.  But to wrap things up, I’d like to share a couple more portraits of the Chickadee parents.

Look at all of that food!  Chickadee parents are SO busy, feeding the birds constantly it seems!

Chickadee, I’m going to miss you. Please bring your family to our bird feeder! I’ll keep filling it with black oil sunflower seeds for you!